Physiology Flashcards
Define “osmolarity”
The concentration of osmotically active particles in a solution
What is the unit of osmolarity in the body?
mOsmol/L
What 2 factors need to be known to calculate osmolarity?
Molar concn of the solution
Number of osmotically active particles present
Calculate the osmolarity of a 150mM solution of NaCl
Osmotically active particles = NaCl = 2
Molar concn = 150
Osmolarity = 150 x 2 = 300 mOsmol/L
What is the difference between osmolality and osmolarity?
Osmolality has units of osmol/kg water
Osmolarity has units of osmol/L
What is the osmolarity of body fluids?
300 mOsmol/L
Define “tonicity”
The effect a solution has on cell volume (ability of solute to cross cell membrane)
If a solution is isotonic, what does this mean?
Water ECF = Water ICF
Cell volume is unchanged - no net movement of water
If a solution is hypotonic, what does this mean?
Water ECF greater than Water ICF
Cell volume increases - water moves into the cell (CELL LYSIS)
If a solution if hypertonic, what does this mean?
Water ECF less than Water ICF
Cell volume decreases - water moves out of the cell (CELL SHRINKAGE)
The cell membrane is very permeable to urea and sucrose. True/False?
False
Permeable to urea, impermeable to sucrose
If you placed a cell in a urea solution, what would happen?
Cell would increase in volume + burst, thus urea solution is hypotonic
What are the 2 fluid compartments that make up total body water? State their proportions
Intracellular fluid (2/3) Extracellular fluid (1/3)
List the components of extracellular fluid (ECF)
Plasma (20%)
Interstitial fluid (80%)
Lymph
Transcellular fluid
How can body fluid compartments be measured?
Tracers - obtain distribution volume
Give examples of tracers used to measure body fluid compartments
Total body water: tritated water
ECF: inulin
Plasma: labelled albumin
TBW = ICF + ECF. Which tracers would enable you to calculate ICF?
Tritated water (TBW) Inulin (ECF)
Give the equation to measure volume (V) of an unknown volume of water using a dosage (D) of tracer and sample concentration (C) of tracer
Dilution principle
V = D/C
List some methods of fluid input
Fluid intake
Food intake
Metabolism
List some insensible (non-regulated) losses of fluid
Skin
Lungs
List some sensible (regulated) losses of fluid
Sweat
Faeces
Urine
Water imbalance manifests as change in body fluid osmolarity. True/False?
True
How is water balance maintained?
By increasing/decreasing fluid intake
Is the concn of Na higher in the ECF or ICF?
Na is higher in the ECF
Is the concn of Cl higher in the ECF or ICF?
Cl is higher in the ECF
Is the concn of K higher in the ECF or ICF?
K is higher in the ICF
Is the concn of HCO3 higher in the ECF or ICF?
HCO3 is higher in the ECF
The osmotic concn of the ECF = the osmotic concn of the ICF. True/False?
True
300 mosmol/l
What is meant by fluid shift in body compartments?
Movement of water between ECF and ICF in response to an osmotic gradient
What would happen to the ICF if the osmotic gradient of the ECF increased?
Osmotic gradient increase = lose water
Therefore, osmolarity increases, causing ECF to become hypertonic, so cell volume decreases i.e. ICF volume decreases
What would happen to the ICF if the osmotic gradient of the ECF decreased?
Osmotic gradient decrease = gain water
Therefore, osmolarity decreases, causing ECF to become hypotonic, so cell volume increases i.e. ICF volume increases
If you add salt to the ECF, what happens to the ICF?
ECF becomes hypertonic so ICF decreases
If you remove salt from the ECF, what happens to the ICF?
ECF becomes hypotonic so ICF increases
If you administer 0.9% NaCl solution IV, what happens to fluid osmolarity?
No change in osmolarity; change in ECF volume only
Which ion is chiefly responsible for the osmolarity of the ECF?
Na
Which ion is chiefly responsible for the osmolarity of the ICF?
K
Salt imbalance manifests as change in ECV. True/False?
True
List the main functions of the kidney
Water and salt balance Maintaining fluid volume and osmolarity Acid-base balance Excretion of waste Secretion of renin, erythropoietin Convert inactive vitamin D to calcitriol
What % of the cardiac output goes to kidneys?
20-25%
What 3 processes occur in a nephron?
Filtration
Reabsorption
Secretion
Describe the flow of arterial blood into the kidney involving its transformation into tubular fluid
Renal artery - afferent arteriole - glomerulus - 20% to Bowman’s capsule, 80% to efferent arteriole - renal tubules - peritubular capillaries - renal vein
What are the 2 types of nephron?
Juxtaglomerular (20%)
Cortical (80%)
How do juxtaglomerular and cortical nephrons differ?
Juxtaglomerular: vasa recta instead of PT capillaries, long loop of Henle
Cortical: PT capillaries, short loop of Henle
Which nephrons produce concentrated urine?
Juxtaglomerular nephrons
The diameter of the afferent arteriole is greater/smaller than the efferent arteriole
The diameter of the afferent arteriole is greater than the efferent arteriole
Which cells secrete renin in the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Granular cells
What do the cells in the macula densa do?
Sense salt composition of distal convoluted tube fluid
How do you calculate the rate of filtration of substance X in the kidney?
X = mass of X filtered per unit time = [X]plasma x GFR
How do you calculate the rate of excretion of substance X in the kidney?
X = mass of X excreted per unit time = [X]urine x Vu (Vu = volume of urine)
How do you calculate the rate of reabsorption of substance X in the kidney?
Rate of reabsorption of X = rate of filtration of X - rate of excretion of X
How do you calculate the of secretion of substance X in the kidney?
Rate of secretion of X = rate of excretion of X - rate of filtration of X
If rate of filtration of X is greater than rate of excretion of X, has net reabsorption or secretion taken place?
Net reabsorption
If rate of filtration of X is less than rate of excretion of X, has net reabsorption or secretion taken place?
Net secretion
The endothelial pores in the glomerular capillary are 100x larger than the capillaries found elsewhere in the body. True/False?
True
What are the 3 main barriers to filtration in the glomerulus?
Glomerular capillary endothelium (barrier to RBC) Basement membrane (barrier to plasma protein) Slit processes of podocytes (barrier to plasma protein)
Name the 4 main forces that comprise net filtration pressure
BPgc - Blood pressure of capillary
HPbc - Hydrostatic pressure of Bowman’s capsule
COPgc - Oncotic pressure of capillary
COPbc - Oncotic pressure of Bowman’s capsule
Glomerular filtration is a passive process. True/False?
True
Describe the effect of BPgc (blood pressure of glomerular capillary)
High (55 mm Hg) pressure constant across the capillary that favours filtration
Describe the effect of HPbc (hydrostatic pressure of Bowman’s capsule)
Fluid in the Bowman’s capsule opposing filtration (15 mm Hg)
Describe the effect of COPgc (oncotic pressure of glomerular capillary)
Opposes filtration of plasma proteins due to concn gradient (30 mm Hg)
Describe the effect of COPbc (oncotic pressure of Bowman’s capsule)
Negligible since there are no plasma proteins in Bowman’s capsule (0 mm Hg)
What is the rough normal value of net filtration pressure?
10 mm Hg favouring filtration
What is glomerular filtration rate (GFR)? Give the equation for calculating this
Rate of filtration of protein-free plasma is filtered from the glomeruli into the Bowman’s capsule per unit time.
GFR = Kf x net filtration pressure Kf = filtration coefficient (how holey the glomerular membrane is)
What is the normal GFR value?
125 ml/min
Which pressure is the major determinant of GFR?
Glomerular capillary blood pressure (BPgc)
A decreased GFR results in decreased urine volume. True/False?
True
How is GFR controlled extrinsically?
Sympathetic control via baroreceptor reflex
How is GFR controlled intrinsically?
Myogenic mechanism (vascular SM stretch in increased ABP causes vasoconstriction) Tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism (GFR increase causes increased NaCl through tubule, resulting in afferent arteriole constriction)
If arterial blood pressure increases, what happens to GFR and net filtration pressure?
GFR and NFP increase with increasing arterial BP as there is increased blood flow to glomerulus afferent arteriole
If vasoconstriction of the afferent arteriole occurs, what happens to GFR and net filtration pressure?
GFR and NCP decrease with vasoconstriction
How does decreased urine volume arise from a fall in blood volume?
Fall in BP causes fall in arterial blood pressure which is detected by baroreceptors that fire to activate sympathetic nervous system; this causes arteriolar vasoconstriction to decrease BPgc and thus decrease GFR, causing decreased urine volume
Changes in arterial blood pressure always result in changes in GFR. True/False?
False
Autoregulation prevents short-term changes in arterial blood pressure affecting GFR
i.e. intrinsic control
What is the equation for calculating mean arterial blood pressure?
(1/3 x [systolic - diastolic]) + diastolic
How do the macula densa cells contribute to intrinsic control of GFR?
Sense salt in distal tubule and release vasoconstrictive mediators (in response to salt) in a -ve feedback loop, causing decreased GFR
TUBULOGLOMERULAR FEEDBACK
What effect does a kidney stone have on GFR?
Kidney stone causes increased HPbc, causing decreased GFR
What effect does diarrhoea have on GFR?
Diarrhoea causes increased COPgc, causing decreased GFR
What effect does severe burns have on GFR?
Severe burns causes decreased COPgc, causing increased GFR
What is plasma clearance?
A measure of how effectively the kidneys can clear a substance from blood
= volume of plasma containing a substance cleared per minute (ml/min)
Give the equation for plasma clearance of substance X
([X]urine x Vu) / [X]plasma
Which substance has a plasma clearance equivalent to GFR?
Inulin - it is neither absorbed or secreted, so can be used as a measure of GFR
Why is creatinine not as good as inulin as a measure of GFR?
Creatinine undergoes small amount of secretion so not quite as accurate but easier to measure clinically
Glucose is normally completely reabsorbed and not secreted. True/False?
True
Should have 0 clearance
Give an example of a substance that is partly reabsorbed and not secreted
Urea
About 50% is reabsorbed
The clearance of urea will be less/greater than the GFR
The clearance of urea will be less than the GFR
Give an example of a substance that is secreted but not reabsorbed
H+
The clearance of H+ will be less/greater than the GFR
The clearance of H+ will be greater than the GFR
If clearance is less than the GFR, the substance is reabsorbed/secreted/neither reabsorbed or secreted
If clearance is less than the GFR, the substance is reabsorbed
If clearance is equal to the GFR, the substance is reabsorbed/secreted/neither reabsorbed or secreted
If clearance is equal to the GFR, the substance is neither reabsorbed or secreted
If clearance is greater than the GFR, the substance is reabsorbed/secreted/neither reabsorbed or secreted
If clearance is greater than the GFR, the substance is secreted
Which substance helps us calculate renal plasma flow? What is a normal renal plasma flow?
Para-amino hippuric acid (PAH)
650 ml/min
Why is PAH useful for measuring renal plasma flow?
Freely filtered at glomerulus
Secreted into tubule (not reabsorbed)
Completely cleared from plasma
i.e. all PAH in plasma that escapes filtration is secreted from peritubular capillaries anyway
A marker of renal blood flow should be filtered and completely secreted. True/False?
True
What is filtration fraction?
Give the equation for calculating filtration fraction
Fraction of plasma that is filtered by the glomerulus
GFR/renal plasma flow (usually 20%)
Where does most reabsorption of substances occur in the nephron?
Occurs along whole length, but most occurs in proximal tubule
List substances reabsorbed in the proximal tubule
Sugar Amino acid Phosphate Sulphate Lactate
List substances secreted in the proximal tubule
H+ Hippurates (PAH) Neurotransmitter Bile Uric acid Drugs Toxin
Where is the Na-K pump always found?
Basolateral membrane
Describe the movement of Na and K across the Na-K pump
2 K in, 3 Na out of cell against concn gradient
Is the Na-glucose transporter an example of cotransport or antiport?
Co-transport
Is the Na-H transporter an example of cotransport or antiport?
Antiport
How does water couple its reabsorption with ion transport?
Movement of Na towards blood creates electrochemical gradient for Cl movement which follows Na; this creates an osmotic gradient for movement of water
(Water follows sodium)
When does reabsorption of glucose stop?
When renal threshold is reached and cotransporters are fully saturated
Tubular fluid is iso-osmotic when it leaves the proximal tubule. What does this mean?
Osmolarity = 300 mOsmol/L
What is the function of the Loop of Henle?
Generate cortico-medullary concn gradient to enable production of hypertonic urine
What is the term for opposing fluid flow in the two limbs of the Loop of Henle? What is the function of this?
Countercurrent multiplication
Kidney can produce urine of different volumes depending on ADH content
Which ions are reabsorbed in the ascending loop of Henle?
Na, Cl
Thick = active transport, thin = passive transport
Little or no water reabsorption occurs in the ascending loop of Henle. True/False?
True
The descending loop of Henle reabsorbs a lot of salt. True/False?
False
Mainly water reabsorption
The triple cotransporter enables reabsorption of which ions? Which drug class inhibits this cotransporter? Where in the nephron is this located?
Na, Cl, K
Loop diuretics block the cotransporter
Thick (upper) ascending loop of Loop of Henle
How does salt pumped out of ascending limb affect the osmolarity of the interstitial fluid?
Osmolarity of interstitial fluid increases
The distal tubule is not permeable to urea. True/False?
True
Hormones (ADH, aldosterone) only influence permeability of distal tubule and collecting duct. True/False?
True
ADH causes water excretion. True/False?
False
ADH causes water reabsorption
What is the effect aldosterone upon K, H and Na?
Increases Na reabsorption
Increased K and H secretion
What is the effect of ANP on Na? Why?
Decrease Na reabsorption due to stretch of atrial muscle cells
Is distal tubular fluid hypo, hyper or iso osmotic?
Hypo-osmotic
What ion transport occurs in the early and late distal tubule respectively?
Na-K-2Cl cotransport
Reabsorption: Ca, Na, K
Secretion: H+
Secretion: K+ due to aldosterone
What ion transport occurs in the early and late collecting duct respectively
Similar to late distal tubule
Low ion permeability
High water and urea permeability
Where are the aquaporin/vasopressin type 2 receptors (sensitive to ADH) located?
Apical membrane
High ADH causes hypotonic urine. True/False?
False
High ADH causes water reabsorption by inserting new aquaporin channels, so urine will be hypertonic
Decreased atrial pressure causes increased/decreased ADH release
Decreased atrial pressure causes increased ADH release
What is the effect of nicotine and alcohol on ADH?
Nicotine stimulates ADH release
Alcohol inhibits ADH release
What is the effect of aldosterone on Na and K? Why?
Aldosterone promotes Na reabsorption and K release
Increase Na K pumps at basolateral membrane
What 3 mechanisms increase renin release in the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Reduced BP in afferent arteriole
Macula densa cells sense decreased salt in DT
Increased sympathetic stimulation
What is the equation for calculating pH?
pH = 1/log[H]
The pH of arterial blood is more alkali than the pH of venous blood. True/False?
True
pH of arterial blood = 7.45
pH of venous blood = 7.35
What is the average pH of blood?
7.4
Small changes in pH reflect small changes in [H+]. True/False?
False
Large changes in [H+] cause small changes in pH
What is the effect of increasing [H+] on pH?
pH decreases with increasing [H+]
How do fluctuations in [H+} alter nerve/CNS activity?
Acidosis causes CNS depression
Alkalosis causes overexcitability of PNS and CNS
List the 3 sources of [H+] addition into the body
Carbonic acid formation Inorganic acids (from breakdown of nutrients) Organic acids (from metabolism)
What is the relationship between strong + weak acids and dissociation in solution?
Strong acids dissociate completely in solution
Weak acids dissociate partially in solution
HA — H+ + A-
If acid [H+] is added, what happens to equilibrium?
Equilibrium shifts to left to produce more HA
A- ions mop up H+ ions to buffer any decrease in pH
HA — H+ + A-
If base [A-] is added, what happens to equilibrium?
Equilibrium shifts to right to dissociate more HA
Rise in pH (caused by excess A-/fall in H+) is buffered by dissociation of HA
What is the equation for calculating equilibrium constant (K)?
K = [H][A]/[HA]
State the Henderson-Hasselbach equation
pH = pK + log[A]/[HA]
State the equation for calculating pK
pK = -logK = -log[H][A]/[HA]
The most important physiological buffer is the CO2-HCO3 buffer. What is the equilibrium equation?
CO2 + H20 (lungs) — H2CO3 — H+ + HCO3- (kidneys)
Which enzyme catalyses the formation of carbonic acid?
Carbonic anhydrase
What does control of [HCO3-] depend on?
H+ secretion into the tubule
How can the kidneys generate new HCO3- when buffer stores are low (i.e. when [HCO3-]tubular-fluid is low)?
H+ combines with phosphate buffer to cause net gain of HCO3-
What is meant by titratable acid?
The amount of H+ excreted via phosphate buffer in the kidney (when tubular HCO3 is low)
Measure the amount of strong base added to the titrate to buffer the pH back to 7.4
i.e. to reverse addition of H+
What 3 things happen as a result of H+ tubular secretion?
Reabsorption of HCO3 (prevent acidosis)
Formation of acid phosphate
Formation of ammonium ion
What is the difference between compensation and correction of acid-base balance?
Compensation: restore pH regardless of HCO3 and CO2 levels
Correction: restore pH, HCO3 and CO2 to normal
Respiratory acidosis is caused by ________. List some disease causes
CO2 retention
COPD
Chest injuries
Respiratory depression
What is the compensatory mechanism for respiratory acidosis?
Drives equilibrium to right
Renal system compensates due to respiratory cause
Increase H+ secretion and generate titratable acid which forms new HCO3
i.e. ultimately increase HCO3 added to blood
Respiratoy alkalosis is caused by ______. List some disease causes
Excess CO2 removal
Low inspired PO2 at altitude
Hyperventilation
What is the compensatory mechanism for respiratory alkalosis?
Drives equilibrium to left
Renal system compensates due to respiratory cause
HCO3 excretion - no titratable acid is formed so no generation of new HCO3
i.e. ultimately decrease HCO3
Metabolic acidosis is caused by _______ from any source other than CO2. List some disease causes
Excess H+
Ingestion of acid foodstuff
Metabolic production (lactic acid)
Loss of base from body (diarrhoea)
What is the compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis?
Respiratory system compensates as it is not cause
Hyperventilation - blow off CO2
i.e. ultimately lower H+
Metabolic alkalosis is caused by ________ from body. List some disease causes
Excess loss of H+
Vomiting (loss of HCl)
Ingestion of alkali (antacid)
Aldosterone hypersecretion
What is the compensatory mechanism for metabolic alkalosis?
Respiratory system compensates as it is not cause
Slow ventilation - retain CO2
i.e. ultimately increase H+
What is the juxtaglomerular apparatus?
Distal tubular structure between afferent and efferent arterioles
List the components of the structure of a nephrone
Bowman's capsule Proximal convulated tubule Loop of Henle (ascending and descending loop) Distal convulated tubule Collecting duct Renal pelvis
What three factors minimise blood flow washing away NaCl and urea?
Vasa recta capillaries follow hairpin loops
Vasa recta capillaries freely permeable to NaCl and H20
Blood flow to vasa recta is low
What is the function of the distal tubule and collecting duct?
Sites for regulation of ion and water balance
List stimulus for ADH release
Mostly hypothalamic osmoreceptors
Activation of left atrial stretch receptors in large changes of ABP
Outline the RAAS pathway when ABP is reduced
Angiotensin produced in liver –>
Renin produced in kidney –>
Angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2 in lungs via ACE –>
Arteriolar vasoconstriction and increased ADH –>
Aldosterone produced in adrenal cortex –>
Increased Na and Cl reabsorption in kidney
Hold H20 in ECF
Conserve H20
What is normal acid base balance?
- Plasma pH = 7.35 -7.45 (7.4)
- HCO3p = 23-27 (25)
- Arterial pCO2 = 35 - 45 (40)